No survivors reported after plane with 6 aboard crashes in New York
Share this @internewscast.com

No survivors were reported after a private plane crashed while it was preparing for a second landing attempt in New York’s Columbia County on Saturday, officials said.

Six people traveling to Columbia County Airport in Ghent en route to a planned holiday celebration with family were on board, federal officials said at a news conference Sunday.

Family friend John Santoro said a statement to The Associated Press that his adult son, recent MIT graduate James Santoro, died in the crash.

Santoro’ statement identified the others on board: Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer player named the 2022 NCAA woman of the year; her father, Dr. Michael Groff, a neuroscientist; her mother, Dr. Joy Saini, a urogynecologist; her brother, Jared Groff, a 2022 graduate of Swarthmore College who worked as a paralegal; Alexia Couyutas Duarte, Jared Groff’s partner, who also graduated from Swarthmore and planned to attend Harvard Law School; and James Santoro, Karenna Groff’s boyfriend.

All six were pulled from the plane and none were hospitalized, Todd Inman, member of the National Transportation Safety Board, said at Sunday’s news conference.

“The aircraft was compressed, buckled and embedded into the terrain,” Inman said. “The aircraft was, in fact, crashed at a high rate of descent into the ground.”

The plane, a Mitsubishi MU-2B with an experienced pilot at the controls, crashed into a field near Copake at about 12:15 p.m. Saturday, according to NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration officials. The aircraft was about 10 miles south of its destination, Columbia County Airport.

The plane was flying out of Westchester County Airport in West Harrison, just north of New York City and about 100 miles south of Ghent, NTSB officials said.

The pilot had abandoned a landing attempt and was preparing a second try when the plane hit the ground at a high speed, Inman said.

“The pilot reported a missed approach,” Albert Nixon, the NTSB investigator in charge of the crash probe, said at the news conference.

The Columbia County Airport air traffic control tower tried to contact him four times to no avail, he said. The radio contact started with an attempt to inform the pilot of a low-altitude warning, Nixon said.

The pilot remained silent, he said. “There was no distress call” before impact, Nixon said.

The pilot was flying by instrument, not visually, and there was snow on the ground, NTSB officials said. The conditions included overcast skies and a temperature of 35 degrees, according to National Weather Service data.

Investigators have reviewed video of the crash, Inman said. It wasn’t clear where exactly the video was recorded, and he indicated it was unlikely it would be released publicly.

The Mitsubishi MU-2B is a twin-turboprop aircraft with a pressurized cabin, like commercial jets, Inman said, which would allow it to fly higher and farther than many noncommercial planes.

He said the aircraft changed hands last year and at the time got “a very upgraded avionics package.”

The plane was registered to an entity called Dynamic Spine Solutions LLC, based in Weston, Massachusetts, according to FAA tail number registration information. Dr. Michael Groff is listed in state incorporation records as the entity’s sole agent and contact.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation of deaths or the identities of those on board.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Legoland opens resort in Shanghai, the first in China

Legoland launches its inaugural resort in Shanghai, China

It is one of 11 parks across the world and was built…
South Philly shooting today: At least 8 wounded in mass shooting inside 7 Elements Restaurant Bar and Lounge in Philadelphia, PA

Mass Shooting at 7 Elements in South Philly: 8 Injured

PHILADELPHIA — At least eight people were wounded in a mass shooting…
Woman recalls saving person's life from car fire on JTB

Heroic Woman Shares Story of Rescuing Someone from a Car Fire on JTB

JFRD called Ash Lawley a hero after she pulled a woman from…
Police: Woman shot at Jacksonville Red Roof Inn hotel; suspect outstanding

Shooting at Mississippi Way Block Party Sends 2 to Hospital, Says LCPD

The Lake City Police Department says officers found multiple spent shell casings…
Indianapolis mass shooting leaves 2 dead, several others wounded

Two Killed and Several Injured in Indianapolis Mass Shooting

Two people were killed in a shooting that injured at least seven…
Girl clinging to a tree in floodwaters.

22-Year-Old Woman Rescued After Being Carried 20 Miles by Texas Floods; 25 Camp Children Still Missing

A YOUNG woman was miraculously rescued after being swept 20 miles downriver…
Heroes, zeros from Mets' Subway Series win: Jeff McNeil came through

Mets’ Subway Series Victory: Jeff McNeil Shines While Others Falter

Heroes, zeros and the inside pitch from the Mets’ 6-5 win over the…
Security camera footage of a lion escaping and injuring people.

Scary Incident: Pet Lion Jumps Out of Garden to Attack Woman—and Owner’s Reaction is Equally as Startling

THIS is the terrifying moment a pet lion pounces on a woman…
Donald and Melania Trump on a White House balcony with an American flag.

Donald and Melania Trump Charm Audience with Heartwarming Balcony Appearance Amid Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration

DONALD Trump and Melania have warmed hearts with their PDA-packed appearance while…
Christie Brinkley admits she is a 'fool for love' despite four failed marriages

Christie Brinkley Confesses She’s a ‘Romantic at Heart’ Even After Four Divorces

Christie Brinkley is no stranger to love. The legendary supermodel, who has been…
Florida expired tags: Potential consequences and tips to avoid registration spam

Expired Florida Tags: Consequences and Tips to Steer Clear of Registration Spam

Nearly 700,000 Florida drivers have expired tags, according to recent data from…

Multiple Cities Experience Shootings and Fireworks Accident on July Fourth Holiday

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (AP) — This year’s Fourth of July holiday saw numerous…